The 33-year-old former Stoke City FC and West Bromwich Albion FC defender sustained the injury six minutes from the end of his side's 2-0 victory against KAA Gent on Sunday. Subsequent tests revealed he had suffered a partial tear of the front cruciate ligament in the right knee, ruling him out of action for between three and four months.

Hoefkens, who has played in both the victories that have taken his side three points clear at the top of UEFA Europa League Group H, was particularly disappointed at missing out on the chance to face Birmingham City FC on Thursday.

"I was really looking forward to the matches against Birmingham," he said. "They have players whom I still know quite well, young lads who had to clean my boots for me when I was at Stoke. I would have loved to have played against them – but it is what it is."

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